The climate in Serengeti is usually moderate and pleasant. The average temperatures are quite uniform throughout the year. It never gets very hot, but it is consistently cool to cold at night and in the early mornings. It is advisable to take warm clothing for early morning game drives. The altitude in the Serengeti varies widely from 1,140 to 2,099m (3,740 to 6,886 ft). Temperatures drop by about 6.5°C for every 1,000m you climb (or 3.5°F per 1,000ft), so even within the park, there are wide climatic variations.

Serengeti's Dry season is from June to October. There are two Wet seasons. The ‘short rains’ are from November to December, and the ‘long rains’ are from March to May. During the Wet season, it rarely rains all day, but afternoon thundershowers can be expected.

Dry season–June to October

June, July, August, September & October – Afternoon temperatures are usually around 25°C/77°F. Most days have a fine, clear sky. It is possible for the short rains to begin in October, should they start early. It gets cold at night with minimum temperatures around 14°C/57°F. Occasional cold fronts are possible, with temperatures close to freezing. It’s usually cold early in the morning.

Wet season–November to May

As in the Dry season, temperatures are moderate during the Wet season. Afternoon temperatures are usually around 26°C/79°F, and night temperatures are around 15°C/59°F.

November & December – 'Short rains' – An unpredictable period of about a month of rains occurs sometime between October and December. The rains will be unlikely to interfere with your safari. Daytime temperatures are usually around 27°C/80°F while night and early morning are around 15°C/59°F.

January & February – There tends to be a dry spell between the short and long rains. The exact timing is unpredictable.

March, April & May – 'Long rains' – These are the wettest months. It tends to rain most days, although seldom for the whole day. It is often cloudy. The average maximum and minimum temperatures are 26°C/79°F and 16°C/61°F respectively. In April and May, cold fronts might bring colder peak temperatures.

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